Apparatus for molding articles



May 25, 1948. I

S. E. BRILLHART ETAL APPARATUS FOR MOLDI NG ARTICLES Filed Sept. 27, 1945 Fla. 2

INVENTORS Q 5.1:. BRILLHART L14 MO HER ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1948 Anew-mason DlNG mwws, Samuel E. *Brillhart, 'Lutherville, and Leslie '1'. "Mosher, Baltimore, 'Md., assignors to =Western Electric .lGompa-ny, Incorporated, New K9 1i N. fil atcorporationof New York Annlicationsentember 27, 1945, SefiallflotlSfiS-Z "This invention relates .to apparatus for molding articles, and has for its object the provision of new and improved apparatus for-molding articles.

ILIn the manufacture of the articles having molding-material molded around flexible cores, it is essential 'in many-instances that the cores be not displaced as-the molding materialis molded thereover. 'Toprevent.displacement ofthe cores, thepressure ofthe .molding material-on the cores mustbe balanced. V

.An'apparatus fqr molding articles, which forms one embodiment of theinvention, .includes a pair of separable mold sections having a single extrusion chamber and a mold cavity-formed therein and also provided with diametrically opposed sprues leading fromthe extrusion chamber and directed towardthe center line'of the cavity. tln practicing the invention, a flexible core is placed'in a'mold cavltyf-ormed in apai'r of separable mold ections. Molding material then is i'orcediby a ramfrom a single extrusion chamber through sprues intothe-moldcavity; The'outl'ets of the sprues arepositioned along the line of separation ofthe'mold sections and are directed oppositely to each other so thatthe pressure of the molding-material upon the core is balanced .and the coreis not displacedin the cavity'during the molding operation. a

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the:following detailed decription of apparatus forming specific embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with thle appended draw ng, in whiC l is a fragmentary, top plan view of an.

apparatus forming one embodiment of the in- .venti n;

Fig. 2 'is agfragmentary, vertical section taken alonel e. .12 otEiscl;

Big. 3 is a fragmentary, 'horizontal section ItaKenaIOnglineiS- B of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is afragmentary vertical section of an apparatus forming a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now inldetail tothe drawing, a mold J includes .anuppermold section Hand a lower mold section "l2 .(Fig. 2). The mold sections ..l,| ,andsl Zane provided with mold recesses [3 and 7.1.4,, respectively, which form a mold cavity {5 de- ,signedto receivea skeleton terminal [6. The skeleton terminal 16 includes a loading coil l1 migrs) .andaffiberterminal. bas l8. C n u s l9-.f|.9..extend sla ikly from the. loading coil to the terminal .base, ,Dass through "the "fiber i terminal 5--('3laims. (01.18.2136).

shown). Insulating sleeves iii-=40 .are 511951- tioned on the conductors :t9=-;I9. Conductors 21- 21 pass between the loading coil and arms 22-22 of-a yoke .23, extendslackly fromthe edge 5 of the coil -to the terminal :base wwhiehith-ey pass through and are --connected :to cable .connectors (not shown). Insulating sleeves 124x24 -.c.over the conductors 2 l--'2-I. The sleeves 2211:5211 rand Q l-J A-passaroundand are held away iromla =10 transverse pin '25 by an insulating bushing :25.

The upper mold section II is provided .withan extrusion chamber 21, :and a pair .or sprnes .28 and *29 "are formed, in 'the cmold sections All :and *3 with the outlets thereof positionled .-.on 2.091 0- 5215 sitesidesof :the mold :cavi-ty :15. The .sprues 12.8

and 29 include tapered passages :31] .andfil ,zand semicylindrical groovesdZ andi33, resnectively. tormed in the-upper:mold section. *The :spmes 28 and 29 also include .semicylindrieal grooves 3G and -35 whichnare formed 111113118 I'lQ-WQI' mold sectiona -below the grooves-.32 ands-3 aarespectively. I-he semicylindrical grooves '32 and :34 fer-n1 ,a passagewhich is positioned latathe ;J'unetleI1-of the mold sections and is directedtowardathepenter line of the :mold cavity 45, and ilthei5fimicylindrical grooves '33 and 35 form a massage which is positioned-at the Junction .of rthe :mold sections and is aligned with :the passage :formed by the semicylindrical grooves 32 and 1:34. :In

+ otherwords, theoutlet of the passage formed by the grooves 32 and $4 is directly-opposed :toithe o utlet of the passage formedlbythetgrooves 3.3 and 35. Gutl-et s -of sprues 4 Bel-2M] -FigtI-l) ,;which a e i ntical the sprue 28, :and :outlets .of sprues 4 l-M ,--vrhich are identicalswithz'thelsprue 1Z9 and whose'outlets are directed oppositetowthe cutlets of the sprues 8- 40, are spaced-:along opposite sides of theanold cavity.

A ram 42 is --desig-n-ed-'to enter the extrusion 0 chamber 2! andto'force molding materialli43,

which includes rubber, or a rubber-like imaterial, through the s-prues 2 8, 29, ill- 110 '..a-nd aM-e-lll. The'fmoldingmateri-a-l flowsaround the elements oft'he terminal *|'6,"and1SinCeitfiS directeddnto 45 the -mold cavity from opposite sides, it fiows around and keeps separatedtheslack conductors ill-J9 and 2i'=2'l and does not ilo-roe them against the arms"2'2--22 of-'the yoke= 2 3 ;and-thus maintains the spacing of-the conduct-ors from '50 eaohother and fro-mthe arms 22-4-2.

Inthe operation of "the mold 111, the-skeleton terminal H5 is placed'inthe recess ld formedin the lower/mold section t2, the upper -mold sectigon H is; placed over the lower mold section 1 [-2 base and are secured to cable connectors (not ina-positiomso-that-therecess l a and the-recess I4 form the mold, cavity I5. A quantity of the molding material 43 then is placed in the extrusion chamber 21 of the mold section II, and the mold sections, II and I2 are heated by well known heating means (not shown), such as cartridge type resistance heaters, steam platens, or the like. The ram 42 then is moved into the extrusion chamber 21 and forces the molding material 43 through the sprues 28, 29, 40-40 and 4 I-4I until the molding material completely cov I ers the skeleton terminal I5.

As the molding material is forced into the mold cavity I5, the pressure thereof onflthe elements of the skeleton terminal IG is balanced because the outlets of the sprues 28 and 29 are aligned as viewed in Fig. 4. The passage formed by the grooves I3I and I33 is aligned with the passage 'formed by the grooves I26 and I30 and both of these'passages'extend along the junction of the and are directed toward the center line of the molding cavity I5, and the corresponding passages (not shown) of the sprues 4040 are directed toward the center line of the molding cavity I5 and are aligned with the outlet passages (not shown) of the sprues 4I-4I. The outlet passages of the sprues 40-40 and 4I-4I are positioned at the junction of the mold sections. The sprues 28, 20, 40--40 and 4I-4I are so placed along the mold I that the molding material 43 flows into the mold cavity I and completely fllls'the void space in the cavity. The mold sections II and I2 then are opened and the molded terminal is removed therefrom and is vulcanized by suitable vulcanizing equipment (not shown).

The apparatus described hereinabove prevents bunching of the conductors I0-I9 and 2 I-2I and the sleeves 20-20 and 24-.24, and also prevents movement of these sleeves into contact with the arms 22-22 of the yoke 23.

While the molding material 43 described hereinabove is a rubber or a rubber-like compound, the apparatus described hereinabove could be used to mold other thermosetting materials or thermoplastic materials. Also, the mold I0 could be used to completely cure thermosetting molding materials where such curing is required at the time of the molding.

The mold I0 provides balanced pressure of the molding material being extruded from the oppositely directed sprues while the mold has only the single extrusion chamber and is simple in construction and operation.

A mold. I I0 (Fi 4) forming an alternative embodiment of the invention includes mold sections III and H2 having mold recesses H3 and H4, respectively, forming a mold cavity I I5. The mold sections HI and H2 also include mold cavities illustrated by a mold cavity I I1, positioned to the left, as viewed in Fig, 4, of the mold cavity II5. An extrusion chamber I20 is formed in the mold section II I, and short sprues I2 I, I22 and I2! connect the extrusion chamber I20 with the mold cavities H5 and II'L, Thesesprues include short tapered passages H8, H9 and I28, respectively, and a semicylindrical groove I23 in the mold section III and a semicylindrical groove I24 in the mold section II2 form a passage whose outlet is directed toward the center line of the mold cavity H5 and which extends along the junction of the mold sections to that mold cavity.

The mold section III has semicylindrical grooves I25 and I25 leading from the passage H9 to the mold cavities H5 and 1, respectively.

The grooves I25 and I26 form with a groove I30, which is formed in the mold section I I2, passages whose outlets are opposed and are directed toward the center lines of the mold cavities H5 and Ill,

respectively, the passage formed by the grooves mold sections III and II2. Sprues (not shown) having oppositely directed aligned outlets and being similar to the sprues I2I, I22 and those illustrated by the sprue I21 are spaced along the lengths of the mold cavity H5 and the cavities illustrated by the mold cavity 1.

Resistance heating elements I35 and I36 are positioned in bores I31, and I38, respectively, formed in the mold sections III and 2, respectively, and heat the mold sections in order to vulcanize molding material I43. A ram I42 is provided to force the molding material from the extrusion chamber I20 through thelsprues I2I, I22, I21 and those spaced along the cavity H5 and the cavities illustrated by the cavity 1.

In the use of the mold I I0, a bare portion, such as a spliced portion, of a flexible conductor I50 is placed in the mold recess H4 and bare portions of flexible conductors illustrated by a flexible conductor I5I are placed in the lower halves of the mold cavities, illustrated'by the mold cavity III. The mold sections II I and I I2 then are assembled with the bare conductors centered in the mold cavities formed thereby.

The ram I42 then is actuated to force the molding material I43 through the sprues IN and I22, the sprues illustrated by the sprue I21 and the sprues (not shown) similar thereto which are spaced along the mold cavity H5 and the mold cavitiesillustrated by the mold cavity Ill. The outlets of these sprues directthe molding material into those mold cavities in opposed streams so that the pressures of the molding material upon opposite sides of the conductor I50 .and those conductors illustrated by the conductor I5I are balanced and the conductors are held in centered positions in the mold cavities. Thus, insulating covers of uniform thickness are formed over the conductors in the mold II 0. The heat of the mold sections III and H2, which are heated by the heating elements I35 and I36, respectively, then vulcanizes the molding material surrounding the conductors in the mold III].

The mold sections III and H2 then are separated, the conductor I50 and the conductors illustrated by the conductor I5 I I are removed from the mold I I0, and the short sprues formed therein are cleaned. The mold IIO then may be used to mold covers over another group of conductors similar-to the conductors I50 and I5I.

In the last-described apparatus for moldin articles, the conductors I50 and I5I are held against displacement in the mold cavities H5 and II! by the oppositely directed streams of the molding material I43; Thus, the covers formed therearound are uniform in thickness. The shortness of the short sprues of the mold sections III and I I2 facilitates cleaning the waste molding material from the sprues after a molding operation and minimises the amount of waste molding material. Also, with the above-outlined construction,

only a single extrusion jchamber isneeded to obtain balanced pressure of the molding material on all of the flexible conductors.

The molds l0 and l may .be used in any suitable type of molding presses. One such molding press is disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 547,120, filed July 29,1944, now Patent No. 2,428,275.

What is claimed is:

1. A mold, which comprises an upper mold section provided with a mold recess, an extrusion chamber and a pair of passages connecting the extrusion chamber with the mold recess, and a lower mold section provided with a mold recess identical with and complementary to the firstmentioned mold recess for forming therewith a mold cavity for receiving a flexible core element in the central portion thereof and a pair of grooves for forming sprues with the passages, the outlets oi" said sprues being oppositely directed toward the center line of the mold cavity and extending along the parting plane of the mold sections, whereby the pressure of molding material forced from the extrusion chamber through the sprues into the mold cavity against opposite sides of the flexible core element positioned in the central portion of the mold cavity is balanced.

2. A mold, which comprises a pair of mold sections separable along a single plane thereof and provided with an elongated mold cavity whose axis lies in said plane for receiving in the central portion thereof a plurality of elongated flexible core elements to be held therein in slack condition, one of said mold sections being provided with an extrusion chamber and a plurality of spaced pairs of parallel passages extending from the extrusion chamber to points on the parting plane of the mold sections, one. of the passages of each pair being positioned on the opposite side of the axis of mold cavity from the other passage, said mold sections being provided with oppositely directed aligned passages extending along the parting plane of the mold sections from the pairs of parallel passages to the mold cavity for directing molding material into the mold cavity in opposed streams to prevent dislocation of the elongated flexible core elements.

3. A mold, which comprises an upper mold section provided with an elongated mold recess opening into the bottom thereof, an extrusion chamber positioned above the mold recess, a plurality of parallel extrusion passages leading downwardly from the extrusion chamber to points on the bottom of the mold section spaced along one side of the mold recess and a plurality of semicylindrical grooves formed along the bottom of the mold section in communication with the extrusion passages and the mold recess, said upper mold section also being provided with a plurality of parallel extrusion passages leading downwardly from the extrusion chamber to points on the bottom of the mold section spaced along the other side of the mold recess and a. plurality of semi'cylindrical grooves formed along the bottom of the mold section in communication with the last-mentioned extrusion passages and the mold recess, each of said last-mentioned semicylindrical grooves being aligned with one of the first-mentioned semi-cylindrical grooves, and a lower mold section fitting against thebottom of the upper mold section and being provided with a mold recess complementary to the first-mentioned mold recess for forming therewith an elongated mold cavity for receiving a plurality of flexible conductors in the central portion there of, said lower mold section also being provided with a plurality of aligned semicylindrical grooves forming opposed aligned passages with the grooves in the upper mold section so that molding material forced through the passages enters the mold cavity in opposite streams, whereby dislocation of the conductors is prevented.

4. A mold, which comprises a pair of separable mold sections having formed therein a plurality of parallel mold cavities extending along the parting plane thereof, each of said mold cavities being designed to receive a splice of a conductor in the center thereof, one of said mold sections being provided with a single extrusion chamber, said mold sections also being provided with 'L-shaped sprues extending from the outside edges of the outside mold cavities to the extrusion chamber with the outlets thereof directed along the parting plane of the mold sections and a T-shaped sprue extending from adjacent edges of two of the mold cavities to the extrusion chamber with the outlets thereof directed along the parting plane thereof.

5. A mold, which comprises an upper mold section, and a lower mold section in operative engagement with the upper mold section along a parting plane of the mold sections, said mold sections being provided with a plurality of elongated mold cavities whose axes extend side by side along the parting plane of the mold sections, each of said cavities being designed to receive a conductor splice in a position in which the conductor splice extends along the axis of the cavity, said upper mold section being provided with a single extrusion chamber, said mold sections being provided with an L-shaped sprue leading from the extrusion chamber to an outside edge of one of the outside mold cavities, the outlet passage of said sprue being directed along the parting plane toward the centerline of the lastmentioned mold cavity, said mold sections also being provided with a T-shaped sprue leading from the extrusion chamber and having an outlet passage aligned with the outlet passage of the L-shaped sprue and openin into the last-men tioned mold cavity so that material forced through the sprues enters the last-mentioned mold cavity in aligned streams, whereby displacement of the conductor splice is prevented, said T-shaped sprue also having a second outlet passage extending in an opposite direction from the first outlet passage of the T-sh-aped sprue into the mold cavity most adjacent to the lastmentioned mold cavity.

SAMUEL E. BRILLHART. LESLIE V. MOSI-IER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,017,216 Marcus Oct. 15, 1935 2,031,786 Oldham Feb. 25, 1936 2,254,233 Meyer Sept. 2, 1941 2,347,773 Franz May 2, 1944 2,360,023 Tucker Oct. 10, 1944 2,361,348 Dickson et a]. Oct. 24, 1944 

